Down on the Farm

Man, Alex is simply scorchin’ the ball this year. After games like that, you wonder how pitchers ever get that guy out.

Triple-A Scranton (5-3 win over Norfolk)
Andy Phillips: 2 for 4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 K
Bronson Sardinha: 0 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K – threw runners out at second and third from RF
Eric Duncan: 1 for 2, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB – 3 hits so far this year, all for extra bases (1 2B, 2 HR)…couldn’t be happier for the kid
Ross Ohlendorf: 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 5-7 K/BB – eh, hopefully the 32 degree temperature was the culprit
TJ Beam: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Double-A Trenton (8-5 win over Bowie) 
Brett Gardner: 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 1 K, 1 SB – signs of power…encouraging
Jason Brown: 3 for 3, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 BB
Gabe Lopez: 1 for 3, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 BB
Alan Horne: 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K – control has been much better since last Sept

High-A Tampa (3-1 loss to Lakeland)
Jose Tabata: 2 for 3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB – also picked off first, but that’s like picking on the Mona Lisa for her smile
Francisco Cervelli: 1 for 3, 1 K
Reegie Corona, Tim Battle, Marcos Vechionacci, Colin Curtis: combined 0 for 15, 5 K
George Kontos: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 10-3 GB/FB – Joba fourth in the rotation? what the f…
Zach Kroenke: 1.1 IP,  1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Low-A Charleston (2-1 win over Greenville) pitchers combined for 17 K’s
Chris Malec: 1 for 4, 2 K – cancer survivor is quietly raking this year
Austin Jackson: 2 for 3, 1 BB – batted third for the first time as a pro, and yes Joe, that’s 2 straight games without a strikeout
Josue Calzado: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 K
Grant Duff: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Nick Peterson: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K – can a reliever have a more dominating outing?
Jon Hovis: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K – I guess it’s possible…

And because I’m completely infatuated with the guy:
Tim Lincecum: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K – 7 of 8 K’s were swinging, and he wrapped up his outing with 4 straight swinging strikeouts